mansel



sept. 12; 1939. P. MANS@ soRTlNG MACHNE Filed June l2, 1957 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 |NvEN-roR PAUL MANSEL. FIG l.

BY zy 'r'roRNzY Sept. l2, 1939. P. MANsEL I soRTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1957 v 14 sheetsfsheet z INVENToR PAUL MANSEI.

BY e

ATTORNEY omN NoN

P MANSEL soRTING MACHINE Sept. l2, 1939,

Filed June 1.2,l 1937 14 Sheets-Shreet 3 lNvsNToR PAUL MANSEL.

TORNEY sept. 1'2, 1939.-

P. MANSEL.

. SORTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1957 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FIG .5. PAUL MANSEL BYQM ATTORNE Y Sept. 12, 1939. IP. MANsEL 2,172,737 soR'rING MACHINE y Filed June 12, 1937 14 S heetssheet 5 \NVENTOR PAUL MANS EL.

To R NEY P. MANsEL SORTING MACHINE sept. 12, 1939.

14 sheetsu-sheet e Filed June l2, 1957 mmN INVENTO R PAUL MANSEL BY TORNEY Se'pt. l2, 1939. P. MANSEL SORTING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 F119@ June 12, i957 INVENTOR PAUL MANSEL ATTORNEY soRTING MAcINE INVENTOR PAUL MANSEL sept. 12,` 1939. P MANSEL 2,172,731

SORTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1957' 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 un Q FIG.I5.

INVENToR PAUL MANSEL Bvd-WM' Sept; l2, 1939. n |=-l MANSEL 172,737

oRTING MACHINE Filed June i2, 19574 14 sheets-sheet r10 FIG.|7.

INVENTOR l PAUL MANSEL F1616. a I SYM ATTORNEY.

14 sheets-sheet 11 INVENTOR PAUL MANSEL.

W6? l ToRNEY ,VON

.Filed June l2, 1937 Sept. l2, 1939. P, MANsEL SORTING MACHINE Filed June 12, 1957 14 Sheets-Sheet 12 012 m m m INVENTOR V PAUL MANSEL MyW TORNEY Sept. 12, 1939. P. MANsEL SORTING MACHINE Filed June l2, 1957 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 INVENTOR PAUL MANSEL BY TTORNr-:Y

Sept, l2, 1939. P, MANSEL.

soRTING MACHINE Filed June l2, 1937 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 0mm. ovm ONM 00m 0mm QON N ONN QON OQ Ow.

ON- OO- INVENTOR PAUL MANSEL BY%@,J

AT ORNEY Patented Sept.l 1 2', 1939 A n SORTING MACHINE Papi Mansel, Berlin-Lankwitx, Germany, assignor to Siemens 4it Halske Aktiengesellschaft, Siemensstadt, near Berlin, Germany, a corzporation oi' Appiication y.mim 1a, 1937, serial vNia-14.7.1384

^ In-Germany June 29, 1936 Y 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a punched card sorter and more particularly to the type of sorter having spring metal blades acting as chutes to the pocsets and which is adapted to sort perforated cards perforated in one or more codes.

Sorters of this type heretofore have been built to sense only one code, such as a single hole or 45 column code, or a double hole or 90 column code. Also sorters of this type usually have the chute blades arranged in a single group one above the other.

It is, therefore, the principal object ofthis invention to provide a sorter in which the chute blades are arranged in a plurality of groups in side by side relation.

A further object is to provide a novel form of control for the chute blades comprising a series of permutation bars which are adapted to select the particular pocket to which the card is to be routed. K

Another object is to provide a translator which is adapted to sense either single or double hole codes and translate the data to control the operation of the machine by the use of permutation bars.

A still further object is to provide a sorter which is accurate, eiiicientand capable of sorting cards at a high rate of speed.

A more clear conception of the construction, operation and further objects of the invention may be had from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the machine showing the principall operating parts;

Fig. 2 is a continuation of Fig. 1 disclosing the pocketsand chute blade mountings;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine with the sensing head removed and portions of the controls cut away;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the left side of the machine showing the main drive shaft with the sensing head in raised position;

Fig. 5 is similar toFig. 4 disclosing the right hand side of the sensing head, which is shown in lowered position;

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the sensing pin carriage;

Fig. 7 is a cross section through line 1 1 of Fig. 6; f

Fig. 8 is a detail section through line 8--8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a front view of the sensing pin car- 55 riage;

.Fig. 10 is a detail of the sensing pins; l y

Fig. 11 discloses the main drive shaft with its associated cams and gears for controlling the op- 4 eration of the machine. 5 Fig. llAvdiscloses the card sequence sensing pin cam;

Fig. 11B discloses the card stop cam; Fig. 11C discloses a feed roll and the card picker cam; 10

Fig. 11D discloses one of the selector blade operating cams;` Fig. 11E discloses the sensing pin operating cam;

Fig. 12 discloses the sensing head in rear elevation together with the controls and sensing control drum for the kpin operating bail;

' .plug for the sensing pin carriage; 0

3 Fig. 19 isa schematic representation of the permutation bars and their associatedmagnetic f locks and the chute blades controlled thereby;

Fig. 20 is a cross section through line 2li- 20 of Fig. 1:. l Fig. 21 is a detail cross sectional view of a. mounting for the chute blades and the associated Darts;

Fig. 22 is an isometric showing of va, group of chute blade tips disclosing the control holes; 40

Fig. 23`is a detail of the device for preventing overloading ofthe pockets;l

Fig. 24 shows a portion of a i5-column card containing data perforated in the single hole code;

Fig. 25 shows a portion of a 90-column card containing data in the two-hole code.

Fig. v26 is a schematic wiring diagram of `th operating circuits for the sorter;

Fig. 27 is a timing chart of the different essential operations of the machine.l

In operating the machine the sensing pin carriage, containing the sensing pins is positioned above the particular columns which are to be sorted. 'I he switch corresponding to the digit or digits to be'sorted to is operated and then the start switch is operated.

The cards are fed individually from a card magazine, by a card picker, to a pair of feed rolls, thence into a sensing chamber where they are held by a card stop. When the card reaches the sensing chamber the pins descend and sense the data by means of which the desired pocket is selected. The card is then fed by feed rolls up to and between the chute blades which have been selected by the sensed data. These blades have been set up by the data which controls magnetic locking members which, in turn, control permutation bars. These permutation bars are so positioned as to permit only one blade operating pin to rise thereby opening a path between the blades to the selected pocket.

The chute blades start directly behind the sensing chamber and extend in four groupsY of three blades positioned one above the other, to form horizontal guiding surfaces between the feed rolls and below which the sorting pockets are arranged in series. When the card leaves the sensing chamber, it is cau'ied in between the selected blades, which have been raised and the next lower set of blades which remain normal, and is carried by the chutes formed ofthe blades and the feed rolls, until it reaches the end of the chute blades. The ends are bent down to carry the card away from the next pair of feed rolls and into the selected pocket. 'Ihe front end ,of the chute blades are formed with rigid tips,

Card magazine and main drive The machine is formed as best shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and comprises a table-like structure 5,

which is supported by legs 6. Secured to each.

end of the table is an end frame member 1 to which are secured side frames I0 and II adapted `to carry the operating mechanism of the machine. Carried on a shelf I2, suspended from table 5 by arms I3, is a motor I8.

The frame members I0 and II are connected together over each pocket by a cross bar I4 and at the front end by the base member I5 of the card magazine. i

ASecured to the base member I5 is a card magazine 20 below which is located a card picker 2| of a well known type adapted to carry a card from the magazine into the feed rolls 22, which, in turn, carry it into the sensing chamber formed of a perforated plate I9 and a second similar plate 23 secured to the sensing'head. 'I'hese plates are`provided with forty-five columns or rows of twelve holes each.

The card picker is provided with webs 24 to which are secured horizontal studs 25 on which are pivoted eccentric strap bars 25. The bars .26 cooperate with eccentrics 21 (Figs. 11 and I0 and II-. Fastened to the right hand end of shaft 30 is a pulley wheel 32 which is connected by a belt 33 to a smaller pulley on the drive shaft of the motor I8. Secured to the other end of the drive shaft 30 is a hand wheel 34 to permit manual operation of the machine. Adjacent to the hand wheel and outside of the frame I0 is a gear wheel 35 (Figs. 3 and 4) with which mesh idler gears 36, which, in turn, mesh with gears 31 and 38 secured to the shafts 4I)l and 4I of the feed rolls 22 and eject rolls 39.

Mounted above and parallel to shafts 4l! and 4I are spring pressed shafts 42 and 43 carrying pressure rolls 44 and 45. The rolls 45 cooperate with feed rolls 22 to carry the card into the sensing chamber and the rolls 44 cooperate with eject rolls 39 to carry the card out of the sensing chamber and in between the chute blades.

Secured to the drive shaft 30 (Figs. 3, 11, and 11C) on each side of the sensing chamber are feed rolls 48 to which are secured the eccentrics 21 referred to above. The feed rolls 48 extend through slots in the bottom plate I9 of the sensing chamber. Secured to the plate 23 on each side of the perforated portion is a stud on which is pivoted a spring operated arm similar to those carrying shafts 42 and 43. The arm carries a stud on which is mounted a pressure roller 50 (Fig. 1) and a gear 5I. The gear 5I meshes with and is driven Yby a gear 52 secured to the drive shaft 30, thereby insuring a positive drive for both of lthe rolls.

A card stop 6I) is provided to hold the card in the sensing position and prevent the rolls 48 and 50 from carrying it out of the sensing chamber. The card stop comprises two fingers, each of which is mounted on an arm 6I, carried on a shaft 62 journalled in the side frames. Secured between the ngers is a bar 60. The lower edges of arms 5I are spring pressed against 'cams 63 (Fig. 11B) secured to the drive shaft 30, thereby controlling theraising of the card stop into the path of the card at the required time.

After the card leaves the 'sensing chamber under control of eject feed rolls 44 and 48, it passes in between the chute blades leading to the separate pockets where it is picked up by the feed rolls 65 and the pressure rolls 66. A pair of these rolls is provided for each ofthe pockets. These rolls are driven by a gear train comprising gear 35secured to the main drive shaft, idler gear 36, gear 38 throughshaft 4I to which gear 38 is secured, to gear 10 secured to the other end of shaft 4I, idler gears 1I (Figs. 3 and 5), and gear 12 secured to shaft 13` on which is secured feed rolls 65. A shaft 14 mounted directly above shaft 13 carries pressure rolls 56. An idler gear 16, meshing with the gear 12 (Fig. 5), drives the gear 12 of the next adjacent pair of rolls. In this manner the feed rolls 65 are driven continuously by the main drive shaft.,

Sensing head The sensing head contains a carriage in which are movably mounted a single row of thirteen vertical pins each of which is adapted to close a bank of electrical contacts when in its lowermost position. The carriage (Fig.' 12) is mounted on a frame which permits the adjustment of the sensing pins over any desired column of the card. The frame comprises .two side members and 8| which are secured together at the top by a cross bar 32 and further connected together by rods 83 (Figs. 4, 5, and 12). Secured to the rear vertical edge of members 80 and 8| are plates plate-in .having 45 rows. of twelveholes-:Teach therein corresponding. ,to the' of v perforations ina card.-

88 projecting from each of the side 'frames I01and The hook members providepivots about;` which the entire sensing head frame may berotated, as shown in Fig. 4, to permit adjustment of the pins and replacement of the translator. 'I'he entire head may be easily removed by unhooking the arms from the studs. It is held in the raised position by a toggle link comprising two arms 89 and 90, pivoted together andV secured to the member and the frame piece I0.. Inthe lowered position a hook-shaped latch member 9| on each side of the frame engages a stud 92 secured in the frames |0 and therebylocking the frame in its lowered or operative position. The latches are held in their operative position by springs 93.

The sensing pin carriage comprises an inverted U-shaped casting 00, formed as shown in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, having holes |0| therein for accommodating the tie rods 83. 'I'he carriage is supported for lateral movement on these rods thereby permitting it to be positioned over any desired column o'f the card. Journaled in the side members-80 and 8| is a shaft |02 having a screw thread cut therein which is adapted to cooperate with a thread |03 tapped in the casting |00 (Fig. 7). Attached to one end of shaft |02 is a crank |04 by means of which the shaft'may be rotated, thus driving the pin carriage laterally to a position over the desired column. An indicator |05 secured to the frame |00cooperates with a scale (not shown), on bar 82 whereby the columns may be identified. To insure that the carriage will be positioned with the pins in alignment with the holes in the plate 23, thus obviating the damage of both pins and cards, a notched disc, described hereinafter, is secured to the shaft |02 at the end opposite to that oi'. thecrank.

A horizontal shaft |01 is journaled in the casting |00 and has rotatably mounted thereon thirteen three-armed levers |08 formed as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.- The rearwardly (to the left in Fig. 7) extending arm |09 of each lever is pivotally connected to the bifurcated head of a sensing pin ||0, as shown in Fig. 6. A comb fastened to the casting |00 serves as a. vertical guide for each of the sensing pins ||0 and the lever |08 as well as a point of fastening for the springs I2 which tend to draw the pins downward. The levers |08 vare provided with downwardly extending arms I3 formed as shown in Fig. 7 with a forwardly extending finger of insulating material such as hard rubber or Bakelite. Each of these fingers is adapted to close the contacts of a bank of contact springs` I4 which is mounted on the casting |00 as shown.

Adjacent the pivot point of the lever |08 is an upwardly extending finger ||5 which is adapted. to engage slots |09 and||8 cutin a drum ||6 journaledin the casting |00. The drum is manually rotated by a hand lever IIT. The drum ||6 is provided'with slots |09 cut in the surface as shown in Figs. 7 and 10, two of which are separated by a few degrees of rotation and extend in opposite directions from the middle of the shaft, and the third, ||8 still further angularly displaced, extends the full length of the shaft. These slots are provided to lock out or prevent the operation of certain of the sensing pins ||0 *gunmen-in it' To ns.

-jifitfis desired to sensemoves over a scale |20-to indicate the adjusted position of shaft ||6.

A universal bail |25 is carried by link |26 pivoted on one end of the shaft |01 and a T-shaped lever |2| pivoted on the other end thereof. The i upper arm (Figs. '7, 8 and 1'2) of the lever |21 carries a stud, |28 on which is pivoted a roller |30. The roller is adapted to ride on the upper edge of a horizontal bar |3| (Fig. 12) which is mounted for parallel movement between rollers |32 mounted on plates 04 and 85. With the bar |3| in normal position the universal bail |25 contacts all of the leversI |08 holding them in the position shown in Fig. 7 thereby holding the pinsv I0 in their elevated lposition against the action of the springs |2. In their elevated position the pins are above plate 86 leaving the sensing chamber clear for the entrance of a card. When the bar |3| moves down, roller |30 follows the movement,vthereby rotating the universal bail |25 in a counter-clockwise direction, permitting all of the pins, not prevented from doing so by drum ||6, to descend and sense the card in the chamber. Such pins as nd perforations in the card descend the maximum distance bringing the finger. I3 into engagement with the contacts ||4. The pins finding no perforations will descend only part vway which distance is not suicient to engage the contacts.

shorter than pins ||0 and, therefore, does not contact the card. Secured to pin |29 by a block |32 is a pin |33 adapted to contact the card between punching positions.- A special hole located between perforation positions, is provided in plate 86 to accommodate this pin. Pin |33 senses the presence of a card in the sensing chamber and is only operative when a card fails to enter the chamber due to some reason. At that time the pin is free to descend and opens contacts |34, stopping the machine.

The wires connecting the sensing contacts ||4 and the card presence contacts |34 with the controls in the base of the machine are carried in a flexible metal tube |35, which ends in a multicontact plug |36 (Fig. 18) which has two rows of contact fingers |31 adapted to be inserted in jacks provided in the base at |38 (Fig. l). This permits the sensing head to be easily and quickly removed and replaced without the necessity of disconnecting a number of wires from a terminal board.

`The horizontal bar |3| (Fig. 12), referred to above, is mounted for parallel vertical reciprocating movement with respect to the pin carriage. The bar extends horizontally across the entire length of the sensing chamber and has its ends bent at an angle as shown to pass between rollers |32. The bar is spring urged toward the right (Fig. l2) by a spring |39, and is raised `The arm |40 is L shaped (Fig. 12) and is secured to a sleeve|42 loosely mountedon a stud |43 secured between plates 85 and |24. Also secured in and extending at right angles to the sleeve |42 is a` stud shaft |44 on which is carried a roller |45 adapted to cooperate with the cam |46 (Fig. 11E). A high spot on cam |46 will raise the bar |3| through the rotation of arm |40 in an anti-clockwise direction (Fig. 12) and the spring |39 will cause the roller |45 to follow the cam until a low spot is reached and the bar is lowered, thereby lowering thesensing pins and |33 into contact with the card. The cam |46 causes the release of the'sensing pins once each cycle.

To prevent the damage of cards and sensing pins by the incorrect positioning of the pin carriage through the medium of the crank |04as described above, the end of shaft |02` (Fig. 5) opposite to the crank is provided with a notched disc |49 with which a catch pawl |50 is adapted to cooperate. The disc |49is so positioned on the shaft that the pawl may `enter the notch only when .the pins ||0 are positioned in alignment with the holes in plate 86. The lower end of pawl |50 is extended into the path of an arm |5| secured to the sleeve |42. When the bar |3| is lowered by the clockwise rotation of sleevev |42 to permit the pins to descend,- the arm will move into the path of the lower end of the pawl, thereby preventing its leaving the notch in the disc and thus locking the handle |04 from yrotation and the consequent movement of the pin carriage. Conversely, the pins cannot be lowered while the pins are out of alignment with the holes in plate 86 as the pawl |50 will be out of the notch in disc |49 and then rocked into the path of arm |5|` thereby preventing rotation of sleeve |42.

Translator The translator is a removable unitary structure positioned directly below the lsensing head and comprises a set of permutation bars and magnets for controlling the bars and associated chute blade setting pins. These parts are carried on two horizontal plates |55 and |51 (Figs. 14 and v15) which are secured together by stay bolts |56. The sides of the plate |55 are bent up to form vertical side pieces |58 in which holes |59 are provided through which a bolt |60 is -adapted to pass into theside frames |0 and to fasten the translator to the machine. front end of the members |58 are formed with finger pieces |6|, while the rear ends are formed with a sloping cam face |62 as shown in Fig. 14. This face is adapted to cooperate with a spring urged latch member |63 (Fig. 1) pivoted at |64 and having a roller ,|65 thereon, which is adapted to hold the translator in its adjusted position in the machine. To place the translator in the machine the holes |59 are aligned with holes in the frame and the bolts |60 are then fastened to form a pivot about which the rtranslator is swungupwardly until the cam face |62 engages a roller |65 on the latch member |63 rotating the latch in a clockwise direction out of the path of the member |58. When the member |58 has passed, the latch snaps back into position, placing the horizontal arm and roller under the edge of the member |58, thus holding the translator in its operative position.

An auxiliary frame member |68 (Figs. 16 an 17) is secured to the plate |61 by bolts |69 on .which are positioned rollers |65. Positioned for lateral movement between the rollers is a group The` ofk permutation bars ||11. These bars are formed as shown in Fig. 19 with the number of teeth |18 on the front edge and a series oi' notches |19 on the rear edge thereof. The bars are held in spaced relation in their mid position by a comb shaped block |80 and their ends by spacers |8| straddling the bolts |69. Secured to the right hand of each of the bars is an arm |82 to which in turn is secured a spring |83 which is anchored to the plate |84 and stud |81. Secured to the platel|51 is a comb plate |91, the teeth of which extend below the permutation bars and form guide grooves for the arms |85 of the chute operating levers |86. Theteeth |18 on the permutation bars are adapted to form blocking members or-stops for the grooves to limit the movement of the arms |85. The teeth are so arranged that, when the permutation bars have been positioned in accordance withdata sensed from the cards as will be described hereinafter, there will be one or more grooves or spaces into which the arms |85 may enter. There are two sets of similar teeth on each bar (Fig. 19) one set to the right of the center block |80 and the other to the left. The two sets of similar teeth are provided due tothe fact that there are two chute blades to each pocket therefore the levers |86 must act in pairs to control the chute positioning pins. As will be seen in Fig. 19, the number of teeth are in accordance with the digits 13--11-10-8--6-4-3-2. The notches |19 are provided to act as stops with which magnetically operated latches |90-|96 may engage. Inactual operation onlyyone of these notches is necessary to each bar, but, to simplify the manufacture, all bars are made the same. Near the center of each bar a hollowed notch |88 is provided with which a restoring pawl |89 is adapted to cooperate for restoring all of the bars at once. In their normal position, the permutation bars are held against the action of springs |83 by the latch members |90-|96. The restoring pawl moves all of the bars into engagement with the latches, once every cycle, where they are held` until released by the operation of one or more of the magnets. Since the magnets are operated during the time the bars are being held restoredby the pawl |89, the released permutation bars follow the pawl until the teeth reach their selected positions.A The normal position of teeth |18.is shown in Fig.v 16. g

VLatches 90-| 96 are each adapted to hold only one permutation bar in its normal position. Latch |90 however has an additional function in that it acts as a limit stop for all bars except bars |.1| and |16. Referring to Figs. 17 and 19 it will be noted that latch |90 is of a dierentl formation than the other latches in that it presents a broad face |98 which constitutes a limit stop to the slides |12|15 and |11 and has a finger |61 which cooperates with thebar |1|, when in its normal position. All 'of the permutation bars are individually controlled by a latch except bar |10. All of the bars except |10, |1| and |16 are adapted to be stopped in partial travel by the limit |98. 'l y The extent of travel of each of the individual permutation bars may vary. The full travel is limited by block |80. which is formed with steps as showniin Fig. 19. Each of the permutation bars is provided with a stop V|99 which is adapted to limit .on one of the stepsofthe block |80. The block |80 is secured between the plates |51 to Iss. permutation bars |1| to |15 (Fig. 19) have the greatest extent of travel, with respect 76 with additional stops which are adjustable.

These stops comprise metal blocks 200 and 20| pivotally mounted on studs anchored in the frame plates |51 and |'68. Block 2061s formed as shown with a stop shoulder 2oz and the blocken is formed with an incline cam face 203. Secured to the block 20|) is a sheet metal member formed with an arm 204 and a stop lug 205. A second sheet metal member having an'arm 206 andl a stop 201 is secured to block 20|. The arms 204 and 206 (Fig. 16) are connected by a spring 208 which tends to rotate the blocks and stops -toward one another.

It will be noted that the ends of the permutationbar opposite from the arms |82 are ground to form an incline face 209 which cooperates with the face 203 to rotate the block 20| in a clockwise direction. The ends of the bars are adapted to cooperate with the shoulder 202 on block 208 tending to rotate it in a clockwise direction. Also the bars are formed with shoulders 2|0 and 2|| which are adapted to contact stops 205 and 201. The spring 208 tends to hold stop 205 out of the ,path of shoulder 2| 0 and stop 201 into the path of shoulder 2| The shoulders onbars |10 and |1| are the only ones effective but for simplicity of manufacture the bars are all stamped the same. As shown in Fig. 19, the lower end of permutation bar |10 has been cut oi and the lower end of bar |1| has been ground off so that bar |10 is unable to contact either block v200 or 20| and bar |1| will not be 'able to rotate block 200. When one of the bars |12 to |11 has been released by its magnetic pawl, the end of the bar'rotates block 20| in a clockwise direction and removes the stop 201 out of the path of shoulder 2|| on bar |10, thereby permitting its movement. At the same time the end of the operative bar contacts shoulder 202 rotating)I the stop 205 into the path of shoulder 2|0 on slide |1| preventing its movement, It is therefore apparent that` the movement of bars |10 and |1| is controlled in part by the bars |12-|11. The only time-that bar |1| travels its full distance is when latch |90 is operated alone. l

The restoring pawl |89 (Figs. 16 nd 17) is formed of corrugated metal so that it has a limited amount of resiliency and is pivoted on a block 2|5 (Figs..14 and 16). The rear edge of the stop |89 is formed with. a lug 2|6, which is resiliently connected by a spring to a stud 2|1. The block 2|5 is mounted on an eccentric shaft 2|8, which is fastened at its lower end in the plate |51 and in its upper end to a bracket 2| 9 secured to the upper face of the plate |55. The shaft 2 I8 is made eccentric to permit longitudinal adjustment of block 2|5'with regard to its pivot point. `The stud 2|1 extends through block 2|5 and a cam roller. 220 is mounted thereon which is adapted to cooperate with a hat shaped cam 2 |4 on the main shaft 3p' (see Fig. 11) The block 2|5 is connected by a spring extending from stud 2|1 to a pin 22| iixed to plate |68 which tends to rotate the block in a clockwise direction, thereby holding cam roller 220 in engagement with its associated cam. The cam 2|4 is formed with a rise which causes block 2 |5to rotate ina counter-clockwise direction once during each cycle of the machine, thereby bringing pawl |89 into engagement with notches |88 in' the permutation bars and restoring them to normal. After the rise in the cam has been passed, the bars, whose latches have been released, follow the restoring bar and the remaining bars are held in their normal position by the magnetically operated latches. Secured to the left side (Fig. 16) of block 2|5 and extending downwardly, is an arm 222 of spring metal (Fig. 14) which passes through a slot cut in the plate |51, to engage the electric contacts 223. These contacts areheld openwhen the block 2|5 is in its normal position (i. e., with the roller on the low portion of the cam). During therepermuta-` storing and subsequentsetting oi' the tion bars, however, this contact is closed.

Secured between and in the frame plates |51 and |68 are a series of pivots 224 on which are pivotally mounted the pawls ISU-|96, inclusive. Securedto the upper end of the pawls is an arm 225 carrying a pin, which is adapted to cooperate with a fork formed in the end of an arm 228. An arm 226 is secured to each of the armatures of the control vmagnets in such a manner that when a magnet is operated the arm 226 (Fig. 16) is rotated in a clockwise direction, thereby rotating the arm 225 in a counter-clockwise direction to withdraw its individual holding pawl from contact with the notch |19 in its associated permutation bar or bars.

` Central switch stand portion of levers |86 is adapted to enter the guide grooves formed by the comb |68 and controlled by the permutation bars v |10-|11. Pivotally mounted on the` horizontal portion of each of the levers |86 is a cam roller 230 adapted to cooperate with a series of cams 23| (Fig. 11A) securedto the drive shaft 3|). The .bars |86 are positioned on the shaft 226 in groups of three and secured to the extreme end of the horizontal portion of each is a finger piece 232, 233 or 234.

These .finger pieces are-offset and of diierent 'lengths .as shown in Fig. 14 and are adopted to individually control the chute blades 240 to 249 inclusive. Theends of the blades are provided with non-resilient tips 239 which are positioned in eight groups of three, a typical'group being illustrated in Fig. 22. The tip of blade 242 or the lowermost tip of any group is provided as shown with an L-shaped slot 235. The offset finger 232 is adapted to pass through the outer portion of slot 235 and raise blade 24 The finger 233 is adapted to contact and raise blade 242 and linger 234 passes through the inner portion of slot 235 and slot 236 in the tip of blade 24| to contact and raise'blade 240. The contact points are indicated by dotted rectangles on each blade and are designated by the same character as the contacting finger.

,Secured to the lower end of each arm |85 is a spring 231 which is anchored on a cross shaft 2.38. The spring tends to rotate the arm |86 with its associated roller up into' engagement with the cam 23|. The shafts 238 are staggered to accommodate the springs in the least amount of space.

This machine is provided with a special sensing linger 264 which is shaped as shown in Fig. 14 and with it a test is made to determine whether the cards are being fed in correct relation or not. The linger 264 is loosely mounted on a stud carried by a link 265 pivotally mounted on a bar 253, positioned near the center of the machine. I'his bar is mounted on the shaft 228 vand has a cam roller'254 adapted to cooperate tion of lever 258 is a slide 260, which is adapted to cooperate with an L-shaped arm 26| (Figs. 1 and 23), secured to a shaft 262 running the length of the machine, just below the card pockets. Secured to the shaft 262 andindividual to each card pocket is an arm 263 which is adapted to be operated when the card pocket or pockets are filled. The operation of arm 263 causes the rotation of shaft 262, thereby rotatingarm 26| into contact' with slide 260. 'I'his operation causes the rotation of arm 258 in a counterclockwise direction, thus opening the contacts 259` which will stop the machine.

yThe lever 253 has a cam roller 254, which is adapted to cooperate with cam 255 (Figs. 11 and 11A). Once every cycle of the machine, the arm 253 is raised at such a time, that if the cards are .being correctly fed, the free end of sensing fin- Sorting pockets and chute plates The machine is provided with thirteen pockets 280 to 292 inclusive as shown in Figs. 2 and 19. These pockets are formed in a manner well known in the Powers type of machine and are provided with a,slanting plate carried on a guiding hub for receiving and stacking the cards. Extending from a point to the rear of the sensing head to each of the pockets is a pair of Achute blades such as 240 to 252 inclusive (see Fig. 19).

Above each card pocket issecured a cross bar 26,9 tothe bottom of which is secured a U-shaped member 210. The extreme ends of the chute blades are secured to the member 210 as shown in Fig'. 21. Also secured to the mid portion of member 210 is a spring plate 21| which acts' as a deilector for the card entering the pocket. Secured to the upper face of bar 269 is a V- shaped member 212 which acts as a support and guide for the chute blades to the adjacent pockets and also as an additional deflector at each end of the card entering the pocket. The side frames I0 and are provided with slots located one above each pocket in which are positioned arms 213 formed as shown in Fig. 21 to the bottom of which is secured a bar 214 which extends across the machine and is spring pressed at its end by a U-shaped spring 215 which is secured to the underside of cross bar The chute blades are arranged in groups of three positioned one above the other, there being two blades for each pocket, one extending along the right hand side of the machine and the other extending along the left hand side of the machine. There are four groups of blades for each side of the machine, as shown in `li'igs. 19 and 20, and they extend to the pockets in the following order. Chute blade 250 to the rst pocket 280, chute 26| to the second pocket 28| and so forth through to chute blade 262 which extends to the last or reject pocket 262. It is obvious that the cards which are rejected do not contain data in thecolumn being sensed and therefore none of the permutation bars will be released and none of the bladesetting fingers will be raised. This necessitates that the blades 252 be on the top and that they be elevated into the path of the cards at all times. When a card is to be routed to the next or 9 pocket, only one set of blades is elevated, whereas when a card is to be -routed to the 12 pocket all.of the chute blades must be elevated.

The extensions 239 of the chute blades are positioned in slots formedv in the rear edge of a plate 216, over which the card is adapted to travel.

passes between the plate and the under edge of the chute blade. It is then picked up by the feed rolls 65 and carried between the elevated blade and the next lower blade until the pocket at which the raised blade ends is reached. At this time it is forced down by the blades until it strikes plate 212 and deilector 21|, whereupon it drops into the selected pocket.I

The extensions of the chute blades 250 which extend to the reject pocket are always elevated into the path of the card so that it is not necessary that a blade operating linger such as ,232 be operated. If a card is found which does not cause the operation of a finger it passes directly from the sensing chamber under the chute blades 250 to the reject pocket.

` Mechanical operation Fig. 19 is provided to showschematically the location and position of the sorting pockets,v

chute bladesand permutation bars. TheY permutation bars are actually located one above the other but for clearness they are shown one alongside the other. The latch pawls, together with the stop members 205 and 201 are shown with their associated permutation bars in their normal or inoperative position. The horizontal dotted lines mark the'path of the arms |85 which, when released by the cams 23| are adapted to enter between the teeth |16 of the bars. 'I'he chute blades 240-252 are shown ending over their respective card pockets to whichv the blades lead. As shown in the drawings the chute blades are in reverse with regard to their true location, i. e., the blade 240 which ends at pocket 280 is located below blades 24|and 242 and not above as shown. The blades are drawn in this manner to more clearly disclose the mechanism.

In order to describe the operation of the mechanical parts of the machine an example will be given in which a card containing the digit 6 is to be routed to the correct pocket, i. e.,

286. As the decoding of the separate codes is done electrically, this Yfeature will be explained fourth pin from the/right (Fig. 6) to descend when the pin box is lowered, thereby closing -a contact ||4 which, in turn, completes a circuit to one or more of the electro-magnets 300 and 305 (Fig. 16) which operate to release latches When the blades are raised they come, above the plate 216 and the card, therefore,

| and |95, thereby releasing slides |10, |1| and 75 

